What are the different levels of cache in computer architecture?

What are the different levels of cache in computer architecture?

In computer architecture, there are typically three levels of cache: L1, L2, and L3. L1 is the smallest and fastest, located closest to the CPU.

What is the purpose of each cache level?

L1 cache stores the most frequently accessed data for quick retrieval, L2 acts as a bridge between L1 and L3, and L3 is larger but slower, serving as a shared cache for multiple cores.

How does cache size affect performance?

Larger cache sizes can store more data, reducing the need to access slower main memory. However, increasing size can also lead to longer access times.

Are there any other types of cache?

Yes, besides L1, L2, and L3, there are also CPU caches, disk caches, and web caches, each serving different purposes in data retrieval.

Can you explain cache coherence?

Cache coherence ensures that multiple caches in a system maintain a consistent view of memory, preventing data inconsistency.